Why new NOC-K president Maluki has tough task as he assumes office

Newly-elected National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) President Shadrack Maluki has a full in-tray as he takes over the reins from Paul Tergat.

Maluki's immediate task, after winning in the NOC-K polls held in Nairobi on Monday, will be to ensure that Kenya embarks on instant preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, which he said was long overdue.

The Kenya Judo Federation President also has a daunting task, which is to unite the NOC-K affiliates that are currently divided as a result of the protracted and nervy elections that were battled in and out of the courts.

Maluki, who is also the chairman of the Africa Judo Union, has also warned the affiliates’ officials to be ready to put athletes’ interests first, which dominated their intense campaign that was centred around three pillars – Transform, Empower, Inspire.

"We are already late with our readiness for the LA28 Olympics. This is due to the endless politics that bedevilled these elections. I want to say there is no room for laxity, we are headed to the preparations right away," said Maluki in his acceptance speech after he beat his challenger Francis Mutuku 15–12.

"These elections left so many people wounded. Several associations are divided, I want to ensure that there will be unity among the NOC-K affiliates in the months to come. I want us to read from the same script, including those who were elected from the other camp.

"I want us to work together as a unit, focusing on sports development rather than our own individual issues," Maluki said.

Maluki said his New Dawn/Fresh NOC-K team that swept the polls will ensure their personal gains and interests do not supersede those of the athletes.

"For so many years, I have noted that officials’ interests come first within many federations. This is now over. It's either they (officials) ship in or ship out. It will no longer be business as usual, that I can assure," he said.

"It's either the officials work for the athletes or part ways with their associations," he warned.

Maluki assured outgoing NOC-K President Tergat that he has left the federation in good hands, saying he was well versed with the association's operations after serving in the federation for eight years as Vice President.

"My team will take NOC-K to greater heights. We also want to rely on Tergat's wisdom and this is the reason that Tergat will still be a member of the board in my tenure. Tergat will guide us, he will tell us what to do," Maluki said.

The other legacy that Maluki wants to leave at NOC-K is a plethora of talent, which he said will be done through identification, nurturing, and development all the way from the grassroots.

"We want to ensure that our children have early access to sports facilities across the country. So we will work closely with the Government to ensure proper infrastructures are put in place because this is what is lacking in the counties. This will be the only way to ensure sport is grown and developed from the grassroots," he said.

While explaining the secret to their almost flawless performance in the long-awaited polls, Maluki said: "I ensured I brought all the sports stakeholders together. I ensured my camp had individuals who were passionate about the games. They were people energised to take sports to the next level. These were individuals who had everything to lose if they steered away from the course."

On his part, Mutuku said it was a great pleasure to compete against efficient Team New Dawn. He wished the new office well in their endeavours.

"It was a great pleasure and privilege to serve in the federation as Secretary General. It is my hope that the incoming office will inculcate Olympic values in their tenure," said Mutuku.

Tergat assured the new office of a smooth handover and transition by his outgoing team.

The two-time Olympic marathon silver medallist urged the incoming office to focus on athletes’ welfare and NOC-K's programmes.

"Kindly motivate, inspire and develop extra energy to serve the athletes and the federation in equal measure. I'm happy to know that I'm handing over the office to Maluki, who is a person I have worked with in the last eight years. Personally, I believe Maluki and the team will take NOC-K to the next level," Tergat said.

"I'm also happy that I have left the NOC-K office a very solid institution and with very good governance," Tergat said.

Twenty-seven affiliates took part in the polls, which Team New Dawn swept despite the absence of their key candidate Andrew Mudibo (Secretary General), who was locked out by the Sports Dispute Tribunal ruling on grounds that his Kenya Table Tennis Association failed to comply with the Sports Act 2013.

This paved the way for John Ogolla (Weightlifting) to go in unopposed.

Also elected unopposed was double Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge in the race for Male Athletes’ Representative position.

Charles Mose (Cycling) also went unopposed as NOC-K's treasurer following the untimely demise of Kenya Basketball Federation President Paul Otula, who was eyeing the seat.